Emerging Classic Car Collectibles

The used car market has never been hotter and collectors are on the look-out for the next generation of classic cars that are worth investing in. Modern classics are becoming rarer with people buying them in hope they’ll be sitting on a pretty penny in years to come. What’s more, people are joining communities based on the retro cars they own and classic car meets are arranged for those with automobiles of certain ages. The only trouble is buyers are so quick to snap up these vehicles, that it can be hard to get into the club. So here we’ve identified some soon-to-be classic cars that are worth snapping up before someone else does.

Audi R8 V8

A classic car you say? Surely not. We know it feels like just yesterday these were being released (it was in fact 2006) but the R8 is almost certain to become a collector’s item in years to come. The original V8, manual gearbox, was a hit thanks to its tremendous handling and stylish exterior that made Audi’s first ever supercar so popular. Not only is this still a brilliant drive, Audi is going big on electric vehicles in the future and plans to phase out petrol and diesel engines by 2033, which could spell the end altogether for the R8, making them even more desirable. Currently, you can purchase on the used market for around £40,000 and at that price it’s worth picking one up as demand for these is only going to increase in years to come.

Nissan Skyline GT-R

Already an iconic motor, the Skyline is destined to become a classic car as it is already becoming highly sought after. The motor was originally released in 1969 but it’s the models released from the late eighties onwards that should have your attention. Especially as the car is widely recognised from the early 2000s from the popular Playstation racing game Gran Turismo which helped the Skyline grow a cult following. That alone makes it even more likely that the powerful street racer will be a future classic as motorists look for nostalgic cars to add to their collection. Any of the R32/R33/R34 models will be a wise investment. The R32 was the third generation with a 2.6-litre engine and was so popular Nissan produced over 40,000 cars to cope with demand, for what was originally meant to be a limited edition. In 1995 the R33 hit our roads and was an all-round improved version of the R32. It even smashed the Nurburgring lap record with a time of 00:08:01. Four years passed before the R34 came out, which again was an improvement on the previous version. A new six-speed gearbox was added and it was advanced enough to compete with other (much more expensive) supercars at the time. Current values are around £150,000.

BMW E39 M5

Sold from 1995 to 2003 the E39 M5 is fast becoming a cult classic and popular with investors looking to snap up a bargain. Most were driven heavily in their heyday and so finding one with low mileage is tricky and collectors are hunting down those with just a few thousand miles on the clock. However, an E39 M5 even with miles under its belt, are available at decent prices (currently around the £10,000 mark) they are still fantastic to drive. The high performance E39 M5 was considered top of its class in the 90s and 00s thanks to its 4.9-litre V8 engine and modern driving experience and in fact the interior of the M5 holds up well against today’s modern cars. There’s a reason the motor was handed various lifetime achievement awards back in the day, and it’s worth buying for the enjoyment of driving it, as well as knowing it’ll be a good investment for the future.

Lexus LF-A

It’s hard to believe the LF-A is eleven years old having made it’s debut after considerable hype back in 2010. The car was the brand’s showpiece and elevated Lexus into the supercar stratosphere. What makes the LF-A a classic car contender? It was only released for two years, officially, and just 500 were made including special editions each priced over £340,000 and while initially critics didn’t receive it brilliantly, it’s since gone on to become a cult classic. The 4.8-litre V10 engine performs incredibly and with weight distributed perfectly around the chassis the LF-A drives like a dream. On the inside, it was the first Lexus to have a digital dial, including a digital rev counter because a traditional needle wouldn’t have been able to keep up with the speed of the engine. If you can find one, it’s likely to set you back at least £500,000, but keep it in good condition and it’s a solid investment.